Released late Saturday after promising care team I would remain quarantined in bed while body works through radiation side-effects.  A week ahead of expected discharge date.  Dr. Sam, former colleague and mentor would say "still exceeding expectations kiddo".

Friday morning found the debilitating Mucositus pain that progressively increased as more oral damage occured over the last 3 weeks of radiation treatments.... GONE!

 Dilaudid every 2 hours had my brain fuzzy, thought I was dreaming.  Cautiously moved tongue left, then right,  opened mouth, said  "oh my God",  could speak.  When doctors made rounds, greeted them with my voice, their faces were priceless when I said "painful damage inside mouth disappeared, 3 ulcers left that were detectable, they're not  bothersome". 

Mouth, gums, tongue, throat had been covered in sores since week of feeding tube procedure, daily more  appeared, too many to count. 

They eagerly said open wide, to examine for themselves. They offered no explanation how this could happen because Mucositus continues weeks after radiation ends. You could see sores, but they were no longer painful. Sores (plural) were still coming in as late as Thursday afternoon after radiation. 

I believe in miracles,  I believe in prayer & meditative energy that you gifted me with.  And, I believe a miracle happened Thursday night because there is no medical explanation. The care team had taken oral cavity photos for medical records, betting they'll let me have a copy.

Someone asked if I had a photo  ringing 🔔.  No, at that point standing /walking safely wasn't possible. Rang  bell from hospital  bed.  No photos taken of my face due to radiation burns, many have sensitive squeamish tummies. Willing to share 1 picture.  A couple bumps the last 2 months when it wasn't certain radiation would finish, as you know,  was unable to finish chemotherapy. So much emotion in this one photo, truly didn't know my own strength.

What's next...... bed rest, begin working with speech pathologist teaching tongue how to swallow without asperating, follow up appointments,  etc.

My eternal gratitude 🙏